Monday, 2 April 2018
Faith in the Resurrection
Faith in the Resurrection
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
Job 19:25–27
Thousands of years before Jesus came to the world as the Saviour and Messiah who had been promised, those who knew and believed God had a great faith that this life is not the end—that there is an eternity beyond this life. Job lived long before there was a written promise of the resurrection recorded in Scripture, yet in the midst of his great trial, he declared with confidence that after his death he would see God in his physical body.
The death of Christ alone could not be the end of the story for us to have salvation. It was necessary that He also rise from the dead. Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The resurrection is just as much a part of the gospel as the cross.
The fact—not a myth or a legend or a tradition, but a historical, demonstrated fact—that Jesus rose from the dead is the evidence that all of God’s promises concerning our future are reliable. The power that overcame death and the grave guarantees our place in Heaven. This is the message of the resurrection. It is the center and source of our hope. It is the greatest miracle in all of human history. The empty tomb is an assurance that God will fulfill all of His commitments to us, and that one day the Lord will return to take us home.
Job 19:25–27
Thousands of years before Jesus came to the world as the Saviour and Messiah who had been promised, those who knew and believed God had a great faith that this life is not the end—that there is an eternity beyond this life. Job lived long before there was a written promise of the resurrection recorded in Scripture, yet in the midst of his great trial, he declared with confidence that after his death he would see God in his physical body.
The death of Christ alone could not be the end of the story for us to have salvation. It was necessary that He also rise from the dead. Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The resurrection is just as much a part of the gospel as the cross.
The fact—not a myth or a legend or a tradition, but a historical, demonstrated fact—that Jesus rose from the dead is the evidence that all of God’s promises concerning our future are reliable. The power that overcame death and the grave guarantees our place in Heaven. This is the message of the resurrection. It is the center and source of our hope. It is the greatest miracle in all of human history. The empty tomb is an assurance that God will fulfill all of His commitments to us, and that one day the Lord will return to take us home.
Today’s Growth Principle:
We should live every day in the reality of the resurrection and the certainty of Christ’s return.
Sunday, 1 April 2018
When Things Seem Hopeless
When Things Seem Hopeless
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words,”
Luke 24:5–8
The three days that Jesus was in the grave were dark indeed for those who had followed and loved Him. Despite the fact that He had told them of His impending death, they did not seem to grasp the reality of God’s plan for redemption. As those around them celebrated Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they huddled together in hiding. Fear and doubt filled their minds. Their problem was revealed by the angels at the empty tomb—they had forgotten what Jesus said.
If we are honest, many of us live in fear and doubt rather than in confidence and faith. There are times when our fears have a real foundation. Not all of the things we dread are imaginary. Some are very real. But just as the disciples faced the loss of the Lord, when we face real threats we do not have to give in to hopelessness and despair. Even when all of the evidence, all of our senses, all of our experience, and all those around us say that there is no hope, with God all things are possible.
The faithfulness of God is our comfort and strength in times of distress, but only if we remember what He has promised to do for us. Too often, we allow bad circumstances to fill our minds, so that the only thing we remember is how bad things are. When we stop and recall the unfailing promises we have been given, we will not despair.
Luke 24:5–8
The three days that Jesus was in the grave were dark indeed for those who had followed and loved Him. Despite the fact that He had told them of His impending death, they did not seem to grasp the reality of God’s plan for redemption. As those around them celebrated Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they huddled together in hiding. Fear and doubt filled their minds. Their problem was revealed by the angels at the empty tomb—they had forgotten what Jesus said.
If we are honest, many of us live in fear and doubt rather than in confidence and faith. There are times when our fears have a real foundation. Not all of the things we dread are imaginary. Some are very real. But just as the disciples faced the loss of the Lord, when we face real threats we do not have to give in to hopelessness and despair. Even when all of the evidence, all of our senses, all of our experience, and all those around us say that there is no hope, with God all things are possible.
The faithfulness of God is our comfort and strength in times of distress, but only if we remember what He has promised to do for us. Too often, we allow bad circumstances to fill our minds, so that the only thing we remember is how bad things are. When we stop and recall the unfailing promises we have been given, we will not despair.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Even in the darkest days, there is hope to be found in claiming the unchanging promises of God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)